Treasures

             “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21)

 

            The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass. (Revelation 21:21)

 

            All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. (Isaiah 64:6)

 

            Treasure: a quantity of precious metals, gems, or other valuable objects; a very valuable object (Middle English: from Old French tresor, based on Greek thēsauros  (See thesaurus)

 

           Thesaurus (late 16th century: via Latin from Greek thēsauros ‘storehouse, treasure’. The original sense ‘dictionary or encyclopedia’ was narrowed to the current meaning by the publication of Roget's Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases (1852).

 

            I’m going to leave the etymological study above. It’s very interesting, but I think it’ll distract – except in this sense. Treasures are things that one values and collects, stockpiles, and hoards. It doesn’t matter whether they are words or chunks of minerals (gold, diamonds, etc.) But, if we are going to stockpile our treasures in heaven, it’s reasonable to consider what sort of treasures would have value there.

            The passage from Revelation makes it sound as though gold isn’t worth much. Righteous works have even less value, as described in Isaiah. The things that come to mind as valued by Jesus are love and faith. Of course, love and faith will produce works, either of righteousness or evil depending on the object of the love and faith. And the value of the love, faith, and works that result from them will depend on the level of righteousness involved. So, the most important question of each day should be, “How can I love and trust first God, then my neighbor, today?” And it should be asked not in order to gain treasure in heaven, but for its and their own sakes. That's how to build a treasure in heaven.